Batting

ADRIAN, MICH. – A four-run sixth inning broke open a close game in the opener, but there wasn't enough late inning magic in the nightcap as the Lake Erie College baseball team split a Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference doubleheader against host Hillsdale College Saturday (March 23), winning game one 8-3 before falling 3-2.

The games were played at Siena Heights University in Adrian, Mich., due to unplayable field conditions in Hillsdale.

The Chargers (8-7, 1-1 GLIAC) scored three times in the bottom of the second inning in game one and led 3-2 heading into the fifth before the Storm (5-12, 2-2 GLIAC) rallied for a pair of runs to take the lead. Lake Erie then scored four times – with four different players each driving in a run – in the sixth to put the game away.

The run support was more than enough for senior starter Adam Beach (Vermillion, Ohio/Vermillion) to pick up his first win of the season as he held the Chargers to just two hits after that three-run second inning.

Beach (1-3) went the distance, allowing three runs (all earned) on five hits in seven innings. He walked two and struck out six in his eighth career complete game. The win was the 15th for Beach in his career, tying Paul Rosko (2006-09) for the most wins in school history.

Senior Patrick Kilway (Tallmadge, Ohio/Tallmadge) drove in two runs to lead the offense in the opener while senior Zach Mosbarger (Bellefontaine, Ohio/Bellefontaine) and junior Garrett Emling (Tallmadge, Ohio/Tallmadge) each had two hits. Every Storm hitter had at least one hit in the game and only Mosbarger and sophomore Aaron Lindgren (Willoughby, Ohio/Willoughby South) were without a RBI. However, both scored a run.

Kris Morris (0-4) was the losing pitcher, allowing six earned runs (seven total) on nine hits in 5 1/3 innings. Scott Lantis had a two-run single and Connor Barlett had two hits for Hillsdale in the game.

With the score tied at 1-1 in game two, it was again the fifth inning that put one squad ahead for good. This time, however, it was the Chargers as Adam Ladzinski's pinch-hit single drove in the go-ahead run. Mike Vanchieri followed with a sacrifice fly to make it 3-1.

That run proved to be valuable as Lake Erie got within a run in the sixth on a two-out RBI double by freshman Lou Peterlin (Mentor, Ohio/Lake Catholic). But Dan Pochmara came on out of the bullpen to retire all four hitters he faced to earn his second save.

Senior Logan Nordquist (Alliance, Ohio/Alliance) went five innings and allowed three runs or less for the third straight start, but once again suffered a hard-luck loss. He gave up eight hits and a walk while striking out a season-high five, but saw his record fall to 0-4.

After a big offensive showing in game one, the Storm had just four hits in the nightcap, including a pair by senior Cody Blood (Conneaut, Ohio/Conneaut). Blood also scored twice.

Lucas Hamelinck got the mound win for Hillsdale, going 5 2/3 innings and allowing just two runs on four hits. He walked three and struck out five. Luke Ortel and Michael O'Sullivan, the first two hitters in the Chargers' lineup, each had two hits and combined to score all three runs.

The two teams will square off in the series' rubber game on Sunday, March 24, at Siena Heights.